Scupper flap valve



May 5, 1959" v H. W.I PUJOL SCUPPER FLAP VALVE Fiied Feb. 7, 195a H-l l- -lk 1 V 1 L 3 3 IN VENTOR.

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Figures 1 to S, 11 designates a SCUPPER FLAP VALVE Howard W. Pujol, Monterey Park, Calif. Application February 7, 1958, Serial No. 713,984 3 Claims. (Cl. 114-185) This invention relates to boats, and more particularly to transom construction for boats including scupper valves.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved transom structure for a boat, said structure including a scupper valve which closes automatically when the water level exteriorly of the transom rises relative thereto and which automatically opens when the water recedes below the level of the associated scupper, allowing water to drain from the boat, the transom structure involving simple components, being relatively inexpensive to fabricate, and substantially minimizing the possibility of water entering the boat through the scupper openings thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved scupper flap valve for use in a boat hull, the flap valve being relatively compact in size, operating to close automatically when the water level rises relative to the associated scupper, and opening when the water level is below the associated scupper, whereby water or other debris may be emptied through the scupper.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view of a boat transom provided with improved scupper valves according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view'to an enlarged scale showing a fragmentary portion of the transom of Figure l with the scupper valve elements associated with one of the scupper openings of the transom, said elements being shown separated from the scupper opening.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view, similar to Figure 2, but showing the flap element of the scupper valve in closed position.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of scupper valve structure according to the present invention.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to boat hull having the transom 12, said transom being provided adjacent the opposite side margins thereof with generally rectangular, horizontally elongated scupper openings 13. Designated generally at 14, 14 are valve devices which are secured externally to the transom 12 around the respective scupper openings 13. Each valve device 14 comprises a frame 15 comprising a wall member 16 formed with a rectangular, elongated opening 17 substantially identical with the associated scupper opening 13, as shown in Figure 4. The frame 15 further comprises a top wall 18 which the structure shown in cross sectional view nited States Pat,

2,884,888 Patented May 5, 1959 ice slopes downwardly and outwardly away from the-top portion of thevertical wall 16, and respective'verticalside walls 19, 19 which depend fromthe opposite ends of the top wall 18 and which are rigidly secured to the respective end edges of the vertical wall'16. The side walls 19 are formed with the depending triangular extensions 20, said extensions being further formed at their bottom inner inclined edges with inwardly extending ribs 21.

Hingedly connected to the bottom edge of the rear wall 16 is a generally rectangular rigid flap member 22 of suitable, relatively light material, such as rigid sheet plastic, or the like, said flap member 22 fitting between the inside surfaces of the depending'triangular portions'20 of the side walls 19 and being normally supported on the inwardly projecting stop ribs21 provided on the inner inclined marginal portions of thedepending elements 20.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, dependinghinge hook elements 50 are secured to the bottom edge of the vertical wall 16, said hook elements being generally L-shaped and extending through longitudinal slots 51 formed in the margin of the flap member 22. The lower head of the L-shaped hook 50 are disposed transversely, as shown in Figure 5, and sufiicient clearance is provided between said lower head and the bottom surface of the flap member 22 to allow the fiap member to rotate freely around a substantially transverse horizontal axis parallel to the bottom edge of the scupper opening 13.

The frames 15 are secured to the transom 12 by any suitable fastening means, for example, by wood screws 53 extending through their top corner portions and through the gasket 26, and by additional wood screws extending throughside lugs 54 and 55 provided respectively on the frame members 15 and the gaskets 26,

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the flap member 22 is formed with a plurality of depending hollow float elements 24 to render the flap member relatively buoyant. As shown in Figure 4, the flap member 22 may heelevated into substantially sealing engagement with the bottom edge of the inclined upper wall 18, said flap member fitting sufficiently closely between the side walls 19, 19 to substantially prevent water from entering the enclosure defined thereabove in any considerable quantity, as when the water level rises above the level of the flap valve, as shown in Figure 4. I

Each frame 15 is sealingly secured to the external surface of the transom 12"around the associated scupper opening 13. Thus, a'sealing gasket 26 of rubber or other similar resilient deformable material is provided between the vertical wall 16 and the transom 12 to provide a substantially watertight seal between frame 15 and the transom.

In operation, when the water level rises above the level of the lower edge of the transom scuppers, the flap valves 22 are automatically rotated upwardly to sealing positions, for example, as shown in Figure 4, due to the buoyancy of the flap valves, whereby the housings defined by the frames 15 are sealed off, preventing the water from entering the boat through said housings and through their associated scupper openings 13. When the water level drops, the buoyant force on the flap valve 22 is released, allowing said valves to drop to their normally downwardly and outwardly inclined positions, as shown in Figure 2, whereby water may freely drain from the interior of the boat, and also, whereby any debris in the interior of the boat may be washed out of the boat and emptied therefrom through the scupper openings.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8, a modified form of flap valve is designated generally at 11 and comprises a frame 15, said frame consisting of a vertical rear wall 16' and a downwardly and outwardly inclined top wall 18. Rigidly secured to the ends of the top wall 18 and to the end portions of the vertical wall 16' are the generally triangular side walls 19', 19'.

The vertical wall 16' is formed with a generally rectangular opening 17' substantially identical to the scupper opening 13, and the frame is sealingly secured to the outer surface of the transom by means of a sealing gasket 26 which is interposed between the wall 16' and said outer surface.

The vertical wall 16 is formed with a. pair of depending lugs 32, 32, said lugs being located adjacent the respective ends of the rear wall 16'. Designated at 31 is a rigid flap member which is hingedly connected to the frame 15' for rotation around a horizontal axis parallel to the scupper opening 13. Thus, the flap member 31 is formed with a pair of depending hinge lugs 30, 30, lo cated outwardly adjacent the depending lugs 32, 32, and hingedly connected thereto by a horizontally extending hinged rod 33 which extends through the aligned lugs 30, 30 and 32, 32, as shown in Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 7, the lugs 30 are preferably formed with inwardly projecting block elements 34 through which the hinge rod 33 extends so that the flap member 31 may be rotated to a position flush with the surface of the vertical wall 16', whereby said flap member may substantially seal oif the opening 17' in the wall 16.

The rod 33 is preferably rigidly secured at its end portions in the lug blocks 34 and the hinged lugs 30, 30 of the flap member 31 are freely rotatable on the rod.

The side walls 19 are formed at their end portions with inwardly projecting lug elements 35, 35 which limit the outward rotation of the flap member 31, normally supporting said flap member in the position thereof shown in Figure 7, whereby water may drain freely from the scupper opening 13 and pass downwardly between the lower portion of wall 16' and the bottom edge of the flap member 31. When the water level rises above the level of the lower margin of the flap member, the flap member 31 is rotated inwardly against the vertical wall 16' and seals off the opening 17 thereof, preventing the water from entering the boat through the scupper opening 13. Thus, the valve automatically closes when the level of water outside the transom rises above that of the bottom edge of the scupper opening, sealingly opening and preventing the entry of water into the boat. However, when the water level recedes below the scupper opening, water may drain freely from the boat.

While certain specific emgodiments of an improved scupper valve structure have been shown in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boat hull, a transom formed with a discharge opening, a valve device secured externally to said transom around said opening, said valve device comprising a frame, means securing said frame sealingly to said transom around the opening, said frame including a top wall sloping downwardly and outwardly from the top portion of said opening and side walls adjacent the ends of said opening, a fiap member pivoted to said frame for rotation on an axis parallel to said opening and being sealingly engageable with a portion of said frame to at times cover said opening, and means on said side walls projecting inwardly therefrom and limiting rotation of said flap member away from said last-named frame portion.

2. In a boat hull, a transom formed with a discharge opening, a valve device secured externally to said transom around said opening, said valve device comprising a frame, means securing said frame sealingly to said transom around the opening, said frame including a top wall sloping downwardly and outwardly from the top portion of said opening and side walls adjacent the ends of said opening, a flap member pivoted to said frame for rotation on an axis parallel to said opening and being rotatable upwardly to engage a portion of said frame surrounding said opening to cover same, and means on each side wall projecting inwardly therefrom and limiting downward rotation of said flap member away from said last-named frame portion.

3. In a boat hull, a transom formed with a discharge opening having a substantially horizontal bottom edge, a valve device secured externally to said transom around said opening, said valve device comprising a frame, means securing said frame sealingly to said transom around the opening, said frame including a top wall sloping downwardly and outwardly from the top portion of said opening, and vertical side walls located outwardly adjacent the ends of said opening, a flap member pivoted to said frame for rotation on a horizontal transverse axis parallel to said opening and being rotatable upwardly to engage a portion of said frame surrounding said opening to cover same, and means on said side walls projecting inwardly therefrom and limiting downward rotation of said flap member away from said last-named frame portion.

No references cited. 

